Saturday Tasting:
Grower Champagnes
12 to 4pm
At the Bar

NV Mousse Fils Blanc de Noirs "Cuvee Or Tradition"
On Sale $42.99
"With just the right amount of acidity and tiny, perfect bubbles, the Mousse delivers flavors of cherry, mango, and a hint of spiced biscuits on the palate. Disgorged June 2012. Drink now through 2017. Only 50 cases imported."
Wine Merchant Notes

NV Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte-Anne Brut 
On Sale $42.99
"(60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir, 80% from 2007 and 20% each from 2006 and 2005; disgorged June, 2011): Light gold. Deeply pitched aromas of orchard fruits and redcurrant, with a hint of pungent herbs. Dense and chewy on the palate, offering broad pear and bitter cherry flavors braced by tangy acidity. Shows very good clarity and energy on the finish, which leaves a spicy note behind."
90 Points Stephen Tanzer

2004 Gaston Chiquet Special Club Brut 
On Sale $75.99
"The 2004 Brut Special Club bursts from the glass with terrific energy and sheer class. It captures all of the potential of a year that was especially favorable to Chardonnay. There is plenty of nuance and detail in the glass. The 2004 shows off tons of personality and sheer class. Mint, sage and eucalyptus are some of the notes that wrap around the finish. This is first-class all the way. It is also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Chiquet. The 2004 Special Club is 70% Chardonnay (from Dizy), 30% Pinot Noir (from Ay and Hautvillers). Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged July 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019."
94 points The Wine Advocate

NV Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte-Anne Brut 
On Sale $41.99 
"(60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir, 80% from 2007 and 20% each from 2006 and 2005; disgorged June, 2011): Light gold. Deeply pitched aromas of orchard fruits and redcurrant, with a hint of pungent herbs. Dense and chewy on the palate, offering broad pear and bitter cherry flavors braced by tangy acidity. Shows very good clarity and energy on the finish, which leaves a spicy note behind."
90 Points Stephen Tanzer

NV Henri Goutorbe Cuvee Prestige Brut 
On Sale $48.99
"(70% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay and 5% pinot meunier, mostly from 2005; disgorged June 20, 2011): Light yellow-gold. Orchard fruits, rose and minerals on the nose, with notes of gingerbread and rhubarb that come up with aeration. Sappy and focused on the palate, with very good depth and vivacity to its blood orange and candied floral flavors. Picks up a spicy quality on the back end and finishes with impressive cling and mineral-driven persistence."
92 Points Stephen Tanzer

H. Billiot Fils Brut Rose Grand Cru
On Sale $62.99
"The NV Brut Rose Grand Cru is a deeply colored, powerful wine that showcases the richness of Ambonnay at its finest. The Rose needs some time in the glass to find its inner balance, but when it does the fruit gains delineation and intensity through to the dramatic, sweeping finish. The NV Brut Rose Grand Cru is predominantly Pinot Noir (including 6% still Pinot) with a dash of Chardonnay from the estate's oldest vineyards." 92 Points The Wine Advocate

Saturday 12.8.12 Tasting

Saturday Tasting:  Barolos & Barbarescos 12 to 4pm At the Bar Tomorrow's tasting will feature Barolos and Barbarescos from two producers in Piedmont, Italy, Moccagatta and Luigi Piri. Robert Parker has hailed both labels as producing some of the best wines in Piedmont. Robert Parker on Luigi Piri: "This is an impressive set of wines from Giampaolo Pira. The wines aren't as massive as they sometimes are, but that is just fine. I also noted that the use of oak was much more polished than in some recent vintages." Robert Parker on Moccagatta: "This is one of the strongest sets of wines I can remember from Moccagatta. The entry-level offerings are absolutely delicious and reasonably priced. The Barbareschi are elegant and polished, with less overt oakiness than was once common. Moccaggatta's 2008s are among the best Barbareschi in what has proven to be a highly irregular vintage. Simply put, I can't say enough good things about these wines."

2005 Moccagatta "Bric Balin" Barbaresco On Sale $49.99 The 2005 Barbaresco Bric Balin is a wine of notable freshness and overall harmony. Sweet red cherries, menthol and spices emerge from this beautifully-balanced, feminine Barbaresco. The oak is particularly well-integrated in this vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021. 92 Points The Wine Advocate 2008 Moccagatta "Bric Balin" Barbaresco On Sale $49.99 The 2008 Barbaresco Bric Balin wafts from the glass with crushed flowers, dried cherries, tobacco and cedar. It is less overt than the Basarin, with the structural components playing a greater role in the wine's balance. The energy and focus here are both attractive, while the oak seems to have come down, all of which adds up to a wine with terrific overall balance. The Bric Balin can be enjoyed with minimum cellaring, but it will require some air for the fruit to flesh out. It is a fine effort from the Minuto brothers. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2020. 94 Points The Wine Advocate 2008 Moccagatta "Basarin" Barbaresco On Sale $49.99 The 2008 Barbaresco Basarin is impeccable from start to finish. Sweet rose petals, dark cherries, spices and mocha are some of the notes that emerge from the Basarin. Constantly changing in the glass, the Basarin is at first quite rich in its fruit, but then turns quite a bit more elegant and ethereal with time in the glass. In 2008 the Basarin impresses for its superb overall harmony and balance. This is a fabulous showing from Moccagatta's entry-level Barbaresco. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2020. 92 Points The Wine Advocate 2008 Luigi Pira "Marenca" Barolo On Sale $64.99 The 2008 Barolo Vigna Marenca boasts a center of bright red berries that is surprisingly supple and elegant. Sweet red cherries, freshly cut flowers, spices and mint take shape in the glass as the 2008 shows off a refined, high-toned register that is rarely found in this wine. The 2008 boasts striking inner perfume and a long, chalky yet seamless finish that is the essence of harmony. A hint of dried roses and sweet cherries linger in the empty glass. This is another dazzling showing. The Marenca was aged in a combination of cask and tonneaux. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028. 95 Points The Wine Advocate 2008 Luigi Pira "Margheria" Barolo On Sale $49.99 Pira's 2008 Barolo Vigna Margheria has developed very nicely since I first tasted it in November, 2011. The typical power and weight of this site comes through, but in 2008 the Margheria has an extra dimension of sexiness that makes it highly appealing. Dark cherries, plums, asphalt, melted road tar, dried rose petals and licorice are some of the many notes that come to life in the glass. The weight and tannic finish is pure Margheria, even if the 2008 isn't quite the bruiser it often is. Pira aged the Margheria in 20-hectoliter casks. This is a terrific showing. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2026. 93 Points The Wine Advocate 2008 Luigi Pira "Vigna Rionda" Barolo On Sale $89.99 The 2008 Barolo Vigna Rionda possesses striking inner perfume and sweetness as it wraps around the palate. Raspberries, hard candy, flowers, mint and sweet spices are some of the many notes that flow from this effortless, sensual Barolo. Silky tannins are present, but they are nearly covered by the pure sensuality of the fruit. Today the Rionda is supple, sweet and totally inviting. The finish is intense and totally haunting. This is an exceptional, hugely promising Barolo from Giampaolo Pira. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028. 95 Points The Wine Advocate

09 Ogier & Jamet Cote-Roties!

We have two exceptional Cote Roties (Jamet and Ogier) These are perfect additions to a collector's set of French wines. This offer is Wish List only. Please let me know if you would like to reserve any of these bottles. Quantities are limited and the wines are due to arrive in mid- to late November. 

2009 Jamet Cote Rotie  

Pre-Arrival Price $94.99                                                                               

There are only about 200 cases of the 2009 Cote Rotie Cote Brune, which sees around 15% new oak. Made in a denser, more muscular, masculine style, it offers abundant notes of creme de cassis, black raspberries, licorice, roasted meats and tobacco leaf. Heady, rich and full-bodied, it should drink well for 10-15+ years.

90-93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2009 Michel Ogier Cote Rotie
Pre-Arrival Price $94.99

Not surprisingly, the 2009s are softer, more front end-loaded wines. The 2009 Cote Rotie Classique saw about 60-70% new oak casks in this concentrated vintage. It reveals a dense purple color along with a beautiful bouquet of frying lard and bacon, blackberries, raspberries, forest floor and spring flowers. The sweetness of the tannin, the wine's opulent, fleshy mouthfeel and long, layered finish make for a sumptuous Cote Rotie to drink over the next 10-15 years. 

Ogier's wines just keep getting better and better, so if you haven't yet jumped on the Ogier bandwagon, it's time to do so. Michel Ogier, and more recently his son, Stephane, are the leading craftsmen in terms of wines from the steep hillsides north of the old Roman town of Vienne. These are still entitled to only a VDP designation, but current vintages are the finest he has yet produced.

94 points Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate

2010 Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire

Pre-Arrival Price $219.99

"Even better and a monumental wine in the making, the profound 2010 Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Centenaire (tasted just prior to bottling) smells of a Provencal street market and offers up gorgeous aromas kirsch, raspberry, dried flowers, spice-box, roasted meats, and licorice on the nose. Coming from a single plot of very old Grenache (there is a touch of Mourvedre in the blend) and aged all in tank, this exuberant, hedonistic-bent Châteauneuf-du-Pape is full-bodied on the palate and delivers a voluptuous, mouth filling texture, brilliant concentration, and a blockbuster finish. Eclipsing the ’07 and up there with the ’90 (I think even better), this is monumental stuff that every Châteauneuf-du-Pape lover needs to have in the cellar"
98-100 Points the Rhone Report

Saturday 11.17 Tasting

Saturday Tasting: Thanksgiving Wines with Bill Kniep 12 to 4pm At the Bar Tomorrow we will welcome Bill Kniep from Pinnacle Imports to pour our top seven selections for Thanksgiving Wines. Taste ahead of time and be confident about what you're pouring for your most persnickety family members.

2009 Samsara Syrah Melville Vineyard, Sta. Rita Hills, California On Sale $39.99 A dazzling wine, the 2009 Syrah Melville bursts from the glass with black cherries, pepper, mint, violets and spices. It possesses striking varietal nuance and tons of character in an exuberant, flashy style I find highly appealing. Waves of fruit saturate the palate on a rich, creamy finish buffered by cooling veins of minerality. This is a wonderfully complete, harmonious wine from Samsara. The Melville is 100% Syrah, Estrella clone, fermented with 50% whole clusters and aged in French oak barrels, 25% new. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2019. 94 Points The Wine Advocate 2010 Bodegas Ordonez Zerran, Montsant, Spain On Sale $14.99 50% Garnacha, 40% Mazuelo, 10% Syrah. Bright violet color. Aromas of cherry, redcurrant, and potpourri, with a mineral topnote. Spicy cherry and earth flavors show a sexy floral nuance, strong minerality and very good focus. Finishes on a bitter cherry note, with strong cut and lingering spiciness. 90 Points Stephen Tanzer 2009 Bethel Heights Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon On Sale $23.99 Polished, light and immensely appealing for its pretty raspberry, cream, and floral aromas and flavors, lingering easily on the sleek finish. Drink now through 2015. 5,100 cases made. 90 Points Wine Spectator 2011 Bedrock Old Vines Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley, California On Sale $26.99 If there is any wine of the 2011 releases that accurately demonstrates the poised, claret-like, character of the 2011 vintage it is the 2011 Sonoma Valley Old-Vine. The late ripening Stellwagen Vineyard once again was included into this cuvee to lend its dark fruit, and Casa Santinamaria, another vineyard originally slated for vineyard designation, was included for its beautiful spice. -Winemaker's Notes 2010 Samuel Billaud Chablis "Les Grands Terroirs" On Sale $24.99 The 2010 Chablis is all about crystalline purity, depth and nuance. Lemon, white flowers, slate and crushed rocks all meld together in the glass. The 2010 impresses for its fabulous balance and impeccable finish. This a striking wine within its peer group. Anticipated maturity: 2012+. 90 Points The Wine Advocate 2010 Solitude Chardonnay, Carneros, California On Sale $25.99 Fruit source 100% from Sangiacomo Family Vineyards the same vineyards used by Rombauer, and winemaker Richard Litsch whom previously was working at Romabuer! On the nose rich tones of honeysuckle, pear, coconut, and vanilla. On the palate tropical notes backed with lively acidity. A beautiful creamy vanilla-oak finish! -Winemaker's Notes 2011 Domaine Boisson Cairanne Villages, Cotes du Rhone On Sale $17.99 Harmonious and with a fine, tight finish, this wine offers a rich and generous flavour - a typical white from the South. -Winemaker's Notes

Champagne & Oysters Dinner @ DeMun Oyster Bar!!

Tuesday, November 13th
6:30pm
$70 per person
Call 314-725-0322 for reservations

"With a dash of Greenwich Village, a soupçon of the Left Bank and several pinches of Belle Epoque décor, DeMun Oyster Bar has ingredients to make you feel as though you've stepped from a quaint Clayton street into another time or place."
Joe Bonwich, St Louis Post Dispatch


Join us Tuesday night, November 13th, at The Demun Oyster Bar for a night of St. Louis' best oysters and the Champagne region's best bubbles! The D.O.B oysters are Pacific Coast species that are treasures to come across in the Midwest. We can't think of a better wine pairing than the small production, highly sought-after Terry Thiese Grower Champagnes. This is a unique opportunity to spoil yourself and friends with two of life's not-so-simple pleasures. Seating is limited so make your reservations today. Cheers!

The Menu

First Course
Oyster Mousse on Crostini
w/ Henri Billiot Brut Reserve

Second Course
Medley of Pacific Coast Oysters on the Half Shell
w/ Rene Geoffroy Rose de Saignee Brut

Third Course
Flash-Fried Panko-Battered Oysters
Chopped Over House Caesar and Hand-Grated Parmigiano
w/ Jean Lallement Brut Rose

Fourth Course
Baked Blue Point Oysters Stuffed with Crispy Kale
and Pancetta and Topped with Melted Cave-Aged Gruyere
Accompanied by a Slow Roasted Veal Short Rib in
Bourdelaise Sauce Over a Celery Caulifower Puree
w/ 2003 Vilmart & Cie Coeur de Cuvee

Dessert
Walnut and Black Mission Fig Torte & Chocolate Trio
Mousse Cake
w/ A. Margaine Demi-Sec

 

 

Saturday, November 10th Tasting:
Wines of Chablis, Macon, and Beaujolais
12 to 4pm
At the Bar

Burgundy is France's most terroir-focused region, with strict rules on bottle labeling according to soil and climactic conditions. This is a chance to taste great Burgundy from three of the region's best value appellations.

2011 Henri Perrusset Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay, Bourgogne, France
On Sale $16.99
The Mâcon-Villages is a custom blend of all Perrusset's holdings around Farges. This is a Chardonnay with the ripeness and intensity level of a Pouilly-Fuissé or even a Saint-Aubin, with the particular goût de terroir of Henri's corner of Mâcon.
-Winemaker's Notes

2011 Domaine Perraud Mâcon-Villages, Maconnais, France
On Sale $16.99
Zip and zest and a deliriously saturated mouthful of pure citrus and white fruit-this lively, diamond-cut white Burgundy is for us not only an amazing value in white Burgundy but also it is a stunning example of how character-driven and and cut whites from the Maconnais are.
-Winemaker's Notes

2010 Samuel Billaud Chablis
On Sale $24.99
The 2010 Chablis is all about crystalline purity, depth and nuance. Lemon, white flowers, slate and crushed rocks all meld together in the glass. The 2010 impresses for its fabulous balance and impeccable finish. This a striking wine within its peer group. Anticipated maturity: 2012+.
90 Points The Wine Advocate

2010 Billaud Simon Chablis 1er Cru Montee de Tonnerre
On Sale $49.99
White peaches, pears, minerals and oyster shells all make an appearance in this savory, delicate wine of impeccable class and pure breeding. This is a great example of Montee de Tonnerre. Anticipated maturity: 2015+.
94 Points The Wine Advocate

2010 Billaud Simon Chablis 1er Cru Mont de Milieu
On Sale $44.99
Things take a more serious turn with the 2010 Chablis Mont de Milieu, which is a major step up from the preceding premier crus. Fruit, structure and acidity are all deftly balanced in this harmonious, impeccable wine. I especially like the level of nuance and pure delineation in the glass. A round, textured finish rounds things out in style. Here again, the seemingly opposite, contradictory qualities of the vintage are both on display. The Mont de Milieu is at once approachable yet taut. I find the combination utterly irresistible. Anticipated maturity: 2013+.
93 Points The Wine Advocate

2010 Burgaud Morgon Cote de Py
On Sale $19.99
Bright purple. Pungent aromas of dark berry skin, cherry compote, licorice and minerals, with subtle spiciness adding lift. Firm and chewy on entry, then fleshier in the middle, offering bitter cherry and licorice pastille flavors braced by juicy acidity. Shows a promising blend of rich fruit and structure and finishes with very good energy and lingering minerality.
90 Points Stephen Tanzer

2009 Passot les Rampaux Fleurie Vieilles Vignes
On Sale $19.99
Dark purple. Red and dark berry preserve aromas are complemented by notes of sassafras, violet and spicecake. Black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors stain the palate, picking up a spicy quality with air along with a note of candied flowers. Finishes brisk and fresh, with a persistent note of candied flowers. All of these wines are made with indigenous yeasts.
91 Points Stephen Tanzer

Annual Grower Champagne Tasting

Terry Thiese Grower Champagne Tasting Saturday, November 3rd 12 to 4pm It's time again for our annual "farmer fizz" Champagne campaign! We are the biggest fans of these rare, brilliant handmade sparklers. We only get the chance to buy them ONCE A YEAR.....that's it! So don't miss this chance to taste, hoard and collect some of the greatest sparkling wines ever made. Here's what we'll be pouring:

NV Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Cuis 1er Cru Brut On Sale $49.99 Bright straw. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet offers lime pith, fennel, jasmine and chalk. Lively and delineated in the mouth, lending incisive citrus and quince flavors that are underscored by intense minerality. Very tight, with strong finishing cut and lingering chalkiness. 90 Points Stephen Tanzer NV Mousse "Or Tradition" Brut On Sale $42.99 We love this nonvintage champagne from a new producer, Mousse Fils. This basic NV is 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir, disgorged late December 2011. This is the best edition of the cuvee so far. It's chunky and unassuming but flavory, round, and dark-bready. Not complex, but hugely enjoyable. NV Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte-Anne Brut On Sale $42.99 (60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir, 80% from 2007 and 20% each from 2006 and 2005; disgorged June, 2011): Light gold. Deeply pitched aromas of orchard fruits and redcurrant, with a hint of pungent herbs. Dense and chewy on the palate, offering broad pear and bitter cherry flavors braced by tangy acidity. Shows very good clarity and energy on the finish, which leaves a spicy note behind. 90 Points Stephen Tanzer 2006 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs "Cuvee Gastronome" Brut On Sale $56.99 (made from fruit grown in Chouilly, Cramant, Oger and Cuis; disgorged April 5, 2011): Light gold. Vibrant, deeply fruity aromas of melon, nectarine and orange. Sweet citrus and honeydew flavors offer impressive depth and energy, picking up chalky minerality with air. Finishes with energetic lift and a lingering echo of sappy orchard fruits. Offers a happy marriage of power and finesse. 92 Points Stephen Tanzer 2006 Pierre Peters "Cuvee Millesimee L'Esprit de 2006" On Sale $74.99 The 2006 Brut "Cuvee Millesime L'Esprit de 2006" is a blend of fruit from parcels in Mesnil, Oger, Avize and Cramant, all four Grand Cru villages. It is a sensational wine laced with green pears, apples, lemon, white flowers and spices. The balance of ripeness and tautness is remarkable in this powerful, intense wine. I tasted the 2006 for the first time during a visit to the winery about a year and a half ago, and immediately purchased a case of magnums. The wine is every bit as remarkable today. Dosage is 5.3 grams per liter. Disgorged January 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. 93 Points The Wine Advocate NV Jean Lallement et Fils Brut Rose On Sale $62.99 The NV Brut Rose is 100% Pinot Noir from Verzenay. It is a fabulous wine endowed with tons of sheer energy and class. Layers of vibrant, beautifully delineated fruit flow effortlessly from this superb Champagne. Although it can't be labeled as a single vintage wine, Lallement's NV Brut Rose is 100% 2008 juice. It is a serious wine that is highly deserving of attention. Sweet, perfumed notes resonate on the finish. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged May 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015. 92 Points The Wine Advocate

 Les Cailloux Chateauneuf du Pape, Great Pre-Arrival Pricing!

Holy New House Pop!

We have this great CdP arriving soon. Andre Brunel has been one of our favorite producers in the Rhone for many years and his CdP "Les Cailloux" is his flagship offering. 

2010 Les Cailloux (Lucien et Andre Brunel) Chateauneuf du Pape AOC

On Sale $45.99

"A brilliant Châteauneuf-du-Pape that should not be missed is the 2010 Les Cailloux Châteauneuf-du-Pape! A blend of 70% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 10% Syrah (with only the Syrah being aged in smaller, new barrels), it has put on weight since I tasted it last year and offers up a spectacular array of spiced red fruits, garrigue, small flowers, licorice, and toast on the nose to go with a full-bodied, layered and perfectly proportioned mouth feel. This complex, seamless, and rich Châteauneuf-du-Pape will age effortlessly for two decades!"

95 Points, the Rhone Report

Also 92-95 points, Robert Parker

Available 2010 Chateauneufs-du-Papes

2010 Cuvee du Vatican Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Chateau Sixtine" 
On Sale $53.99 750 mlIn need of 4-5 years of cellaring, the infantile 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve Sixtine is a behemoth. Made from a blend similar to the 2009's, the 2010 exhibits an opaque purple color in addition to a beautiful nose of melted licorice, blackberries, cassis, smoky barbecue embers, underbrush and soil overtones. Rich and full-bodied with a multilayered mouthfeel, this impressive, pure, well-built Chateauneuf will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2035. 

93-95 Points, Robert Parker
2010 Domaine Charbonniere Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Mourre des Perdrix"
On Sale $53.99 750 ml"A big step up and the best vintage of this cuvee I’ve tasted to date, the 2010 Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Mourre des Perdrix is a knockout effort! A blend of 69% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre, and 1% Cinsault that is aged in wooden tanks, it boasts a decidedly mineral-driven bouquet of sweet cherries, kirsch liqueur, rolled stones, garrigue, and spice-box that has both complexity and intensity. This full-bodied, powerful, yet elegant wine has a gorgeous texture, excellent acidity, and very fine tannin that emerge on, and frame, the finish. Classically proportioned, with a traditional feel, this brilliant 2010 will drink well for 15-20 years."
95 Points, the Rhone Report

2010 Bosquet des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Le Chante le Merle Vieille Vignes"
On Sale $65.99 750 ml

"Even more extraordinary is the compelling 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante Le Merle. Inky bluish/purple, the wine offers up notes of incense, camphor, blueberry, blackberry and black raspberry liqueur followed by an exciting, full-bodied, multi-dimensional mouthfeel and finish of close to a minute. This is stunningly rich and pure, yet has remarkable delineation, and because of the acid profile of this vintage, it seems light on its feet despite what I’m sure is 15%-plus alcohol. This wine should evolve over a two decade span and be completely drinkable over that entire period. "
94-96 Points, Robert Parker

2010 Olivier Hillaire Chateauneuf-du-Pape "Les Petits Pieds d'Armand"
On Sale $85.99 750 ml

"One of my favorite wines and a blockbuster in the vintage, the 100% old vine Grenache 2010 Les Petits Pieds d'Armand comes all from the famed La Crau lieu-dit and vines planted in 1899. Offering up a totally brilliant bouquet of kirsch liqueur, creamy raspberry, licorice, and the essence of mixed garrigue and crushed flowers, this full-bodied, powerful, and decadent Châteauneuf-du-Pape is exceedingly concentrated, textured, and rich. Even better than the ’07 and hanging onto plenty of freshness and elegance, this full throttle Grenache should be given 5-6 years of bottle age, and then enjoyed over the following decade or more. "

98 Points, the Rhone Report

94-96 Points, Robert Parker

 

Last Call on these Major 2009 Cabernets!

2010 Montes Alpha M Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz, Chile, Pre-Arrival Price $79.99
Beautifully concentrated, with a floral undertone to the rich yet racy wild berry, cassis and damson plum skin fruit character that’s tightly wound around fine tannins. The finish is long and compact, but this needs time in the cellar to fully shine. Best from 2014 through 2020. From Chile.
96 Points Wine Spectator

2009 Staglin Family Vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley
On Sale $169.99

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is a big, opulent wine loaded with ripe, dark fruit. This is an especially jammy, large-scaled vintage for this wine. Plums, black cherries, leather, licorice, spices and tobacco wrap around the intense, layered finish. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.

93 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2009 Dominus Proprietary Red Wine
Sale Price $179.99
"The 2009 Dominus flows from the glass with layers of highly expressive fruit. The wine possesses stunning richness, power and depth. Dark red fruit, tobacco, flowers and spices are woven into a seamless, beautifully articulated finish. Elegance and intensity are in perfect harmony here. This is a thrilling wine from Dominus. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029."
97+ Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2009 Joseph Phelps "Insignia" Napa Valley
Sale Price $159.99 

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Insignia is a big, generous wine that covers the palate with waves of dark red fruit. Today it is beautifully expressive and opulent yet also well balanced. An explosive finish rounds things out in style. This looks to be a relatively approachable Insignia. Floral, spicy notes round out the finish. In 2009 the blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.

93-96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2009 Merryvale "Profile" Proprietary Red Wne, Napa Valley
Pre-Arrival Price $139.99
The 2009 Profile bursts on the palate with an exciting array of black fruit, smoke, tar, licorice and grilled herbs. It is a muscular wine endowed with considerable depth and richness, but despite its obvious size, all of the elements are in harmony. This big boy will need some cellaring, but it is beautiful. Profile is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
93 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2009 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, Valley
On Sale $82.99
The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon is stunning. An exotic, open bouquet melds into dark red fruit in this racy, sexy Cabernet. Espresso, graphite, crushed flowers, spices, mint and licorice are some of the notes that emerge from the glass. All of the elements flow together gracefully to the refined, supple finish. The 2009 will take a few years to come around, but it is dazzling and immensely appealing, even today. The blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot, all from Forman’s vineyard at the base of Howell Mountain. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2039.
96+ Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
2008 Forman Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley
On Sale $79.99
Good deep ruby-red.  Cool aromas of blueberry, menthol and flowers; smells delicate.  Then surprisingly creamy, round and sweet in the mouth, with a faint herbal edge giving shape and verve to the redcurrant and plum fruit.  Lovely pliant wine in a rather easygoing style, finishing with smooth tannins.  This should be approachable young and age well on its balance.
91 Points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2009 Sheridan Cabernet Sauvignon Block 1, Yakima Valley (4 bottles)
On Sale $125.99
The 2009 Block 1 is thicker, richer, more velvety, and more pleasure-bent than the 2008. It is a candidate for perfection once it goes into bottle.
97-100 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2009 Robert Craig Cabernet Sauvignon, Mt. Veeder
On Sale $69.99

The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a big, broad-shouldered wine loaded with class and personality. Firm tannins provide the backdrop for layers of dark red fruit in this super-expressive, racy Cabernet Sauvignon. Tar, licorice, menthol, iron and smoke nuances develop in the glass, adding a sense of gravitas. This is a striking, totally beautiful wine from Robert Craig. The 2009 Mount Veeder is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029. 

96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Featured Wines/Saturday Tasting Taste these Grenache-based wines tomorrow from 12 to 4pm at the bar!

Grenache is one of the main grapes planted in Southern France and Spain, where the hot, dry climate allows it to ripen fully. Grenache wines are generally fruity, with berry notes, spice, and a relatively high alcohol content. This Grenache tasting will feature seven different Grenache-based wines, including two Chateauneuf-du-Papes. Compare and contrast these wines to see how different winemakers maximize on this grape's qualities. 2010 Mas de Boislauzon Chateauneuf-du-Pape On Sale $42.99 The 2010 Chateauneuf-du-Pape exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color along with a nose of licorice, blueberries and dark black cherry confiture. Powerful and full-bodied with good acids, freshness and delineation, it is a precise, large-scaled wine that requires several years of cellaring before consumption. 91-94 Points Robert Parker 2010 Clos des Brusquieres Chateauneuf-du-Pape On Sale $36.99 Slightly deeper in color with more structure, richness and intensity, the 2010 Chateauneuf-du-Pape reveals a healthy ruby/purple color along with classic peppery, black raspberry and kirsch notes intermixed with hints of garrigue and graphite. The wine is deep, medium to full-bodied with good acidity and a natural, pure flavor profile. It will benefit from several years of cellaring and keep for 12-15 years. 89-91 Points Robert Parker 2010 Domaine Olivier Hillaire Cotes-du-Rhone Vieilles Vignes On Sale $13.99 The 2010 Cotes du Rhone Vieilles Vignes is a pleasant, straightforward, Grenache-dominated wine that is best drunk over the next 2-3 years. -Robert Parker NV Clos des Papes "Le Petit Vin d'Avril" Vin de France On Sale $17.99 Delightful, with elegant plum, violet and grilled herb notes running through the focused finish. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Carignane. Drink now. This NV wine is an everyday drinker side project by Paul Avril of Clos des Papes fame. 88 Points Wine Spectator 2010 El Chaparral de Vega Sindoa Old Vines Garnacha, Anorbe, Spain On Sale $13.99 Bright ruby. An expansive bouquet displays blueberry, cola, violet, cracked pepper and woodsmoke. Palate-staining black and blue fruit flavors are enlivened by zesty mineral and spice qualities, making the whole impressively powerful. The finish strongly echoes blueberry and spice notes that linger on. 91 Points Stephen Tanzer 2011 Honoro Vera Garnacha, Calatayud, Spain On Sale $6.99 Inky ruby. Dark berry liqueur and mocha on the nose, with complicating notes of licorice and sassafras. Sappy blueberry and blackberry flavors show very good depth and pick up a spicy quality with air. Finishes with good breadth, supple tannins and lingering smokiness. 89 Points Stephen Tanzer 2011 Domaine Boisson Cairanne Villages, Cotes du Rhone On Sale $17.99 Harmonious and with a fine, tight finish, this wine offers a rich and generous flavour - a typical white from the South. -Winemaker's Notes

Uplands Creamery

 

Rush Creek Reserve Season Begins

The long wait is over - Next week we release the season's first batch of Rush Creek Reserve. For weeks the creamery has smelled like sweet spruce, and the anticipation has been building towards our first tastings of the season's early batches. The cheeses taste fantastic and we can't wait to send them out. You can find Rush Creek at our cheese counter, and you can also order it from us here.

CHATEAU RIEUSSEC SAUTERNES, CHATEAU LYNCH-BAGES-HUGE PRESS
 
2009 Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes
On Sale $119.99
The minerality and stoniness really comes through on the nose of this Rieussec, more than the 2007. The palate is very well balanced with superb acidity, real tension, steely with great precision with notes of apricot, white peach and honey on the beautifully defined finish. Probably the best Rieussec since the astounding 2001.
Rated 95-97/100 points The Wine Advocate

2009 Chateau Lynch-Bages, Pauillac
On Sale $249.99
Performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel, this appears to be the finest Lynch Bages since the 2000, 1990 and 1989. According to the chateau, the 2009 has the highest level of polyphenols ever measured as well as high alcohol (nearly 13.5%). A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest largely Merlot with touches of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it is an expressive, voluptuously textured effort with unctuosity and powerful, juicy, succulent blackberry and black currant flavors, low acids, a layered, massive mouthfeel, but no sense of heaviness or fatigue. This exquisite Lynch Bages should drink well for 30+ years.
Rated 98/100 points The Wine Advocate

 

 

SEA SMOKE PINOTS!!!

 

We have gotten our yearly allocations and, every year, it's never enough! Please move quickly if you would like some. Here are the details....
2010 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir "Southing"

On Sale $69.99Each year, our goal for Southing is to create the ideal
marriage of complexity and elegance. The seductive nose of the 2010
Southing exhibits fresh crushed flowers, persimmon, morels and cola.
The fine tannins and minerality are enhanced by our estate
vineyard’s characteristic cool climate acidity.
Winemaker's Notes

2010 Sea Smoke Pinot Noir "Ten"
On Sale $99.99

A brooding and intense wine. The aromas begin with
notes of noble fir, ganache, dusty blueberry and blackberry cobbler.
Firm, mature tannins—evidence of Ten’s ageability—are followed by
a long, velvety finish.
Winemaker's Notes

Meet Anthony Wills from the Kilchoman Distillery

Thursday, October 11th

6-730pm

15.00 per person

Call 314.863.6282 for reservations

Join us as we welcome Anthony Wills, founder and managing director of the Kilchoman Distillery Co Ltd,  the first distillery to be established on Islay in over 124 years.  He ran his own independent single cask bottling company for 8 years when he came up with the idea of building a farm distillery. The distillery was built in 2005, with the first run of new spirit coming off the stills later that year. Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland with an annual production of approximately 100,000 litres of alcohol. We at the Merch have been big fans of their malts, so much so that we have purchased casks in previous years and they bottled it for us at cask strength. Our old friend, Ed Kohl from Impex Beverages and importer of Kilchoman, will also be here to pour expressions from the Arran Distillery, located on the Isle of Arran. 

Here is a list of the evening's featured malts:

NV Kilchoman "Machir Bay"  46% abv

NV Kilchoman "100% Islay"  46% abv

5 Year Kilchoman Cask Strength "Wine Merchant Edition" 58.9% abv 

Bottled exclusively for the Wine Merchant, Ltd.

10 Year Isle of Arran 46% abv

14 Year Isle of Arran   46% abv

NV Isle of Arran Sauternes Finish 50% abv

NV Isle of Arran Amarone Finish 50% abv

Legends from Europe Series #1

Parmigiano Reggiano®
Handmade. Seasonal subtleties.
Three ingredients. Quality focused.
Authentically European.

HAND MADE IN A SPECIAL PLACE
Parmigiano Reggiano® cheese is made one wheel at a time
by cheese makers dedicated to their craft. Nine centuries of
collective wisdom, combined with exceptional milk from the
cheese-making zone, result in a world-famous food produced
exclusively in five northern Italian provinces, Parma, Reggio-
Emilia, Modena and parts of Mantua and Bologna. Here,
the climate, soil and natural flora encourage the growth of
high-quality grasses essential to the diet of the cows that
produce the nutrient-dense milk used in Parmigiano Reggiano.

SEASONAL CYCLE
Linked intimately to its place of origin, Parmigiano Reggiano
is noted for flavors that reflect the seasons and what the cows
are eating. Spring cheeses, produced when pastures are filled
with wildflowers, fill the mouth with complex herbal and bright
milky sensations. In summer, newly formed wheels “sweat off”
butterfat in their ambient-temperature aging rooms, resulting
in cheeses that are drier and full of flavor — perfect for grating.
Fall cheeses have a higher protein content, making them
especially suitable for long aging and bringing out nutty,
caramelized and buttery flavors. The cows’ dry hay diet in
winter produces Parmigiano Reggiano that carries tropical
fruit aromas.

JUST THREE INGREDIENTS
Every wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano combines raw, partially
skimmed milk from the evening milking with the following
morning’s whole milk. Once natural whey starter and rennet
are added, the resulting curd is broken by a long-handled whisk
into fragments the size of wheat grains. After cooking, the mass
is divided into “twins” that are drained and packed in molds.
Attached to each is a special casein plaque with a data matrix
providing complete traceability. A stamp wrapped around the
new wheel impresses it with distinctive pin-dot certification
marks spelling out the words “Parmigiano Reggiano.” Later,
the wheels are slipped into tanks filled with sea salt and water,
which flavor the cheese and set the rind. Nothing could be
simpler or more natural than this cheese, made without
additives or preservatives and with just three ingredients —
milk, salt, rennet.

EARNING CREDENTIALS FOR QUALITY
Production and certification processes follow standards set by
Italian law and enforced by Italy’s oldest producers’ association,
the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano-Reggiano, established
in 1934. Experts test each wheel after one year and those
that pass their rigorous inspection are fire branded with the
prestigious oval “Consorzio Tutela Parmigiano Reggiano”
certification mark. The wheels return to the aging houses where
the vast majority are aged to a full 24 months of maturity, or
even longer. Cheeses judged exceptional receive the “Export”
or “Extra” firebrand. In addition to these marks of quality, the
European Union long ago designated Parmigiano Reggiano as a
Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product.

LIFELONG NUTRITION SOURCE
Parmigiano Reggiano is recommended by many Italian
pediatricians as a “first food” for babies: a lactose-free, easily
digestible and tasty source of protein and vitamins. The cheese’s
rich calcium content benefits growing children by building
strong bones and helps adults (especially women) minimize
bone loss as they age. That’s why Parmigiano Reggiano is
orbiting the earth as part of the International Space Station
crew’s official diet; 100 grams daily helps prevent bone loss.
Athletes depend on a chunk of Parmigiano Reggiano for a quick
and satisfying energy boost — and, for the same reason, it’s
an ideal between-meal snack for anyone. Grated, Parmigiano
Reggiano not only lends savory flavor to pastas, pizzas, sauces
and other dishes, but is also a superb table cheese.   •

"Dry Cured Salame"

It Means: Fermented pork processed through a traditional hang-drying technique. Salt, seasonings and other ingredients are added to preserve the meat and it is aged three weeks to six months, depending on the size and type of the salame. Dry curing imparts an intense flavor and rich color, and some dry cured meats are also smoked for additional flavor.

We have loved Columbus for there cured meats for years now. We are getting in a new large format HOT Sopressata to go along with their Finocchiona and Sopressata.  Come by after Wednesday for a taste!

 P.S. We just pre-ordered their Truffle and Porchini Salame due in early November....we will keep you posted.

Our Grower Champagne Campaign-Featuring Terry Theise's "Farmer Fizz"

Greetings! It's time again for our annual "farmer fizz" Champagne campaign from noted importer Terry Theise. Terry has been importing small-production sparkling wines from the Champagne region for many years and his selections will change your mind on how great these wines can be.  The entire Merch crew are huge fans of the bubbly and we get absolutely giddy when these gems arrive at the shop.  If you want to delve more into his portfolio, here's a link to Terry Theise's website. He is also an entertaining and witty writer and his yearly Champagne catalogs are legendary amongst us wine geeks.  http://www.skurnikwines.com/msw/terry_theise.html

Pierre  Gimonnet
NV Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Cuis 1er Cru Brut Pre-Arrival Price $47.99 750mL, $27.99 375mL, $74.99 1.5L
Bright straw.  A complex, highly perfumed bouquet offers lime pith, fennel, jasmine and chalk.  Lively and delineated in the mouth, lending incisive citrus and quince flavors that are underscored by intense minerality.  Very tight, with strong finishing cut and lingering chalkiness.
Rated 90/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2006 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Cuvee Gastronome Brut Pre-Arrival Price $56.99
(made from fruit grown in Chouilly, Cramant, Oger and Cuis; disgorged April 5, 2011):  Light gold.  Vibrant, deeply fruity aromas of melon, nectarine and orange.  Sweet citrus and honeydew flavors offer impressive depth and energy, picking up chalky minerality with air.  Finishes with energetic lift and a lingering echo of sappy orchard fruits.  Offers a happy marriage of power and finesse. Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2005 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Fleuron Brut Pre-Arrival Price $64.99Juicy and delicious, offering rich flavors of patisserie apple, fleshy peach, lemon meringue, biscuit and smoke, balanced by bright acidity with a firm edge, with an aromatic, mineral finish. Disgorged October 2010. Drink now through 2020.
Rated 91/100 points Wine Spectator

2004 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blanc Cuvee Oenophile Extra Brut Pre-Arrival Price $64.99
(100% chardonnay from Chouilly, Cramant and Cuis, with no dosage; disgorged April 5, 2011):  Green-tinged gold.  Pungent citrus pith and nectarine aromas are complicated by intense mineral and spice notes, with a sneaky floral quality building with air.  Dry but in no way severe, offering palate-staining lemon and orange qualities and a touch of sweet butter.  The mineral note adds bite to thea long, incisive finish.  I like this bracing, taut style of Champagne, especially the way that it works with unadorned shellfish or sashimi.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2006 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Cuvee Paradoxe Brut Pre-Arrival Price $56.99
The 2006 Brut Cuvee Paradoxe is approximately two-thirds Pinot and one-third Chardonnay. The Pinot clearly gives the Paradoxe a certain weight and breadth that is quite appealing, and also sets the wine apart from the rest of the Gimmonet lineup. Ripe red berries, flowers, mint and spices are some of the notes that flow from this deep, powerful Champagne. The personality of the wine comes through in the radiant, expressive finish. This is a fabulous effort from Gimmonet. This bottle was disgorged on July 8, 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018.
Rated 92/100 points The Wine Advocate

2004 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Special Club Pre-Arrival Price $84.99
The 2004 Brut Special Club is terrific. Freshly cut flowers, pears, mint and apples are some of the nuances that emerge from the glass. The vintage is ideally suited to Chardonnay, and Gimonnet seems to have captured the full potential of the year here. This is a dazzling effort. The 2004 can be enjoyed today, but ideally needs more time in bottle. It is deeply impressive. Here, too, the blend is mostly Grand Cru; 60% Cramant and 28% Chouilly (both Grand Crus), along with 12% Cuis (Premier Cru), all old vines. This bottle was disgorged on December 12, 2011. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.
Rated 93+/100 points The Wine Advocate

2005 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Special Club Pre-Arrival Price $84.99
(made mostly from fruit from the grand crus Cramant and Chouilly, with 13% coming from premier cru Cuis; disgorged February 9, 2011):  Light, green-tinged gold.  Lime zest, orchard fruit and mineral aromas show very good clarity and vivacity.  Dry, focused and intense, offering juicy citrus and floral flavors and notes of candied ginger and iodine.  Picks up a smoky note with air and finishes with very good cut and lingering spiciness.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2002 Pierre Gimonnet Blanc de Blancs Special Club de Collection Pre-Arrival Price $94.99
The 2002 Brut Special Club de Collection presents a fairly rich, deep expression of fruit but with more than enough structure and energy to provide balance. The 2002 is notable for its rich, creamy textured, remarkable depth and super-finessed texture. It is another terrific wine from Gimmonet. The 2002 is 54% Cramant and 31% Chouilly (both Grand Crus), along with 15% Cuis (Premier Cru), all old vines. As always, the Special Club is made from older vineyards, with a heavy percentage of Grand Cru fruit. This bottle was disgorged March 30, 2011. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2021.
Rated 93/100 points The Wine Advocate

Varnier-Fanniere
NV Varnier-Fanniere BLanc de Blancs Brut (Grand Cru) Pre-Arrival Price $53.99
(100% grand cru chardonnay from Avize, Oger and Cramant) Light straw with a fine bead. Intensely perfumed, spicy aromas of singed orange, lemongrass and ginger. Weighty pear and melon flavors are enlivened by juicy acidity and pick up notes of white flowers and honey with air. Very fresh and precise on the finish, which leaves chalky mineral and jasmine notes behind.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Varnier-Fanniere Cuvee St, Denis Brut Pre-Arrival Price $59.99
(100% chardonnay from a 70-year-old parcel of vines in Avize; made from 65% 2006 wine and the rest from 2005; disgorged May, 2011):  Light, bright gold.  Intense mineral, floral and spice nuances accent orange zest and pear on the nose.  Firm and sharply focused, with spicy, mineral-tinged pear, citrus, anise and honeysuckle flavors.  Finishes with firm mineral cut and grip, the floral note lingering.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Varnier-Fanniere Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $59.99(90% chardonnay, one-third each from Cramant, Avize and Oger, and 10%  pinot noir from Ay, vinified as wine; 40% of the wine is from 2008, 40% from 2007 and 20% from 2006; disgorged May, 2011):  Pale pink.  Racy, precise scents of strawberry, raspberry and fresh flowers on the mineral-accented nose.  Focused and energetic, with impressive depth and cut to its tangy red fruit and citrus zest flavors.  Picks up a chalky quality with air and finishes with excellent clarity, power and length.Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Varnier-Fanniere Cuvee De Jean Fanniere Origine Extra Brut Pre-Arrival Price $64.99
The NV Extra Brut Grand Cru Cuvee de Jean Fanniere Origine is a tightly wound, focused wine bursting with intense Chardonnay notes. Chalk, ash and graphite develop in the glass, adding considerable complexity to the fruit. The muscular, intense style works beautifully. The Cuvee de Jean Fanniere Origine is 100% Chardonnay, 40% Cramant, 40% Avize and 20% Oger, 60% 2005 and 40% 2006 vintages. This bottle was disgorged May 6, 2011. Dosage was 3 grams per liter. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.
Rated 92/100 points The Wine Advocate

Jean Milan
NV Jean Milan Blanc de Blancs Cuvee Speciale Brut Pre-Arrival Price $49.99
(all this fruit is from Oger; disgorged July, 2010):  Pale gold.  A perfumed bouquet displays scents of orange, honeysuckle,anise and sweet butter.  Sappy citrus and orchard fruit flavors are complicated by notes of succulent herbsand given spine by tangy acidity. Quite fresh, with good finishing clarity and a dry edge. 
Rated 88/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Jean Milan Millenaire Brut Pre-Arrival Price $54.99
This is both slightly more elegant and a bit more complex as well with more developed aromas that are similar but there are more brioche and spice characters that can also be found on the very effervescent flavors, indeed this is downright foamy yet the effervescence is very fine and not at all aggressive, which allows the finish to display a sappy and mouth coating quality. This is both intense and quite long as the finish almost sneaks up on the taster. Terrific.
Rated 92/100 points Allen Meadows's Burghound

2008 Jean Milan Symphorine Brut Pre-Arrival Price $62.99
Not Yet Reviewed

NV Jean Milan Cuvee de Reserve Brut Pre-Arrival Price $61.99
A soft-grained, creamy Champagne, this is a bit unusual in style, with delicate acidity and notes of cider and malt playing off of the black licorice, date, candied orange peel and whole-grain toast flavors. The dried fruit character lingers on the finish. Drink now through 2015.
Rated 91/100 points Wine Spectator

NV Jean Milan Glamour Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $59.99
Light, orange-tinged pink.  High-pitched aromas of strawberry,blood orange and white flowers are complemented by suave spice and anise nuances.  Pure, racy and precise on the palate, offering potent citrus and red berry flavors that gain heft with air.  An elegant rendition of pink Champagne that blends power with finesse and finishes with excellent clarity and mineral-driven length. 
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Jean Milan Cuvee Tendresse Sec Pre-Arrival Price $52.99
The NV Sec Cuvee Tendresse is one of the very best wines in this style. It flows with layers of effortless fruit and expressive inner perfume. All of the elements are nicely balanced in this supple, approachable style. Dosage was 20 grams per liter and is used brilliantly here to bring out some of the racier, tropical notes in the Chardonnay, while avoiding too much sweetness or heaviness. This release is equal parts 2006 and 2007 vintages. This bottle was disgorged on July 12, 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.
Rated 92/100 points The Wine Advocate

Pierre Peters
NV Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Brut Pre-Arrival Price $54.99 750mL, $31.99 375mL, $117.99 1.5L, $331.99 3L
The NV Brut Cuvee de Reserve is striking. It shows fabulous cut and definition in its fruit, expressive aromatics all backed up by plenty of underlying structure. A bright, mineral laced finish rounds things out in style. This is superb entry-level wine from one of Champagne’s top producers. The Cuvee Reserve is 100% Chardonnay. This year’s release is based on 2008 (60%), with reserve wines going back to 1988, precisely 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1995-2007 (except 1999 and 2003). Dosage is 6.7 grams. Disgorged February 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.
Rated 92/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Pierre Peters Cuvee Rose' for Albane Pre-Arrival Price $64.99
The NV Brut Rose d’Albane is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Meunier (saignee), all 2008 vintage. Layers of ripe citrus, grapefruit, spices and white flowers flow effortlessly from this detailed, finely chiseled Rose. The wine impresses for its stunning depth and fabulous overall balance. The Chardonnay comes from Les Musettes, a climate in Le Mesnil, while the Meunier comes from Cumieres and Dammery. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. The slightly higher level of dosage works well here. Disgorged December 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016.
Rated 93/100 points The Wine Advocate

2006 Pierre Peters Cuvee Millesimee L'Esprit de2006 Pre-Arrival Price $74.99
The 2006 Brut Millesime Cuvee L’Esprit de 2006 is a blend of fruit from parcels in Mesnil, Oger, Avize and Cramant, all four Grand Cru villages. It is a sensational wine laced with green pears, apples, lemon, white flowers and spices. The balance of ripeness and tautness is remarkable in this powerful, intense wine. I tasted the 2006 for the first time during a visit to the winery about a year and a half ago, and immediately purchased a case of magnums. The wine is every bit as remarkable today. Dosage is 5.3 grams per liter. Disgorged January 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.
Rated 93/100 points The Wine Advocate

2005 Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale Les Chetillons Pre-Arrival Price $89.99 750mL, $229.99 1.5L
Not Yet Reviewed
2004 Vintage Rated 96/100 points The Wine Advocate
Marc Hebrart
NV Marc Hebrart Cuvee de Reserve Brut Pre-Arrival Price $43.99 750mL, $26.99 375mL
The NV Brut Cuvee de Reserve is a fabulous wine. Sweet red berries, lime and jasmine emerge from this taut, wiry Champagne. The wine flows across the palate with notable energy and tons of appeal. This is a gorgeous NV bottling. The Cuvee de Reserve is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, from Mareuil sur Ay, Bisseuil, Avenay Val d'Or, 57% 2008 and 43% 2007/2006 vintages. Dosage was 8 grams per liter. This bottle was disgorged April 1, 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.
Rated 91/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Marc Hebrart Selection Brut Pre-Arrival Price $46.99
The NV Brut Selection is one of the purest, most beautiful 2007 based wines I came across this year. Sweet, round and harmonious, it shows remarkable depth and terrific overall balance. Green apples, flowers and mint are some of the notes that flow effortlessly from this caressing Champagne. The Selection is made in a fairly round, immediate style, and it works beautifully. The blend is 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay from vineyards in Mareuil sur Ay, Oiry, Chouilly, based on 2007 (62%), with 38% of 2006 juice. Dosage is 8.2 grams per liter. Disgorged May 5, 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.
Rated 90/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Marc Hebrart Blanc de Blancs Brut Pre-Arrival Price $45.99
(78% of the wine is from 2007 and 22% from 2006; disgorged 04/01/11):  Green-tinged gold.  Stony, mineral-accented lemon and quince aromas are precise and intensely spicy.  Sappy orange and Meyer lemon flavors show very good depth and a pliant, silky texture, with a hint of anise emerging on the back end.  The silky, spice-accented finish offers appealing ripeness and very good breadth.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Marc Hebrart Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $48.99
(roughly half pinots noir and meunier, and half chardonnay; 53% from 2007 and the rest from 2008; disgorged June 24, 2011):  Pale, bright pink.  Lively, precise aromas of strawberry, blood orange and pear, with a sexy floral quality picking up steam with air.  Dry and nervy on the palate, offering tangy red berry and citrus flavors and complicating notes of chalky minerals and candied rose.  Finishes bright and pure, with very good clarity and lingering florality.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2006 Marc Hebrart Special Club Brut Pre-Arrival Price $72.99
(55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay; disgorged on May 3, 2011):  Light yellow.  Fresh, spicy and complex on the nose, with notes of fresh pear, lemon pith and iodine.  Rich and full but vibrant, with smoke-accented flavors of orchard fruits, orange pit and baking spices.  Juicy acids give the finish a nervy quality and add bite to the lingering peach pit and blood orange flavors.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Henri GoutorbeNV Henri Goutorbe Cuvee Prestige Brut Pre-Arrival Price $48.99(70% pinot noir, 25% chardonnay and 5% pinot meunier, mostly from 2005; disgorged June 20, 2011):  Light yellow-gold.  Orchard fruits, rose and minerals on the nose, with notes of gingerbread and rhubarb that come up with aeration.  Sappy and focused on the palate, with very good depth and vivacity to its blood orange and candied floral flavors.  Picks up a spicy quality on the back end and finishes with impressive cling and mineral-driven persistence.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Henri Goutorbe Blanc de Blancs Brut Pre-Arrival Price $52.99(mostly 2006 wine; disgorged 01/12/11):  Light gold.  Ripe nectarine and pear aromas are complemented by notes of ginger and musky herbs.  Sappy and expansive on the palate, which offers juicy orchard and pit fruit flavors that are lifted by tangy acidity.  Closes on a juicy note, with very good clarity and lingering spiciness.
Rated 90/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Henri Goutorbe Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $54.99The NV Brut Rose Grand Cru, a specialty here, is once again terrific. Though somewhat reticent and tightly wound, the Rose shows hints of its inner sweetness and gorgeous perfume the longer it sits in the glass. This vinous yet mid-weight, classy wine is a great effort from Goutorbe, even if it isn't as extroverted as some past versions. The Rose Grand Cru is 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, all from Ay. Given that the wine is 100% 2006 juice I would like to think there is room for this wine to improve with further time in bottle. Disgorged May 4, 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016. Goutorbe is one of my favorite small, artisan estates. The majority of Goutorbe’s 22 hectares of vineyards are in his home town of Ay, with additional parcels scattered throughout Mareuil, Hautvillers, Mutigny and Bisseuil, and the southern districts of Sezanne and the Aube. The wines are loaded with personality, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.Rated 91/100 points The Wine Advocate

2004 Henri Goutorbe Special Club Brut Pre-Arrival Price $79.99
Not Yet Reviewed

Gaston Chiquet
NV Gaston Chiquet Tradition Carte Verte Brut Pre-Arrival Price $46.99 750mL, $27.99 375mL, $99.99 1.5L
(45% pinot meunier, 35% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir; 80% from 2007 and 20% from 2006; disgorged 04/04/11):  Pale yellow.  Aromas of ripe pear, peach and honey, with a subtle strawberry nuance in the background.  The palate offers very good intensity, with fresh orchard fruit and spicecake flavors picking up weight with air.  Closes on a vibrant, stony note, with very good clarity and length.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Gaston Chiquet Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $49.99The NV Brut Rose is gorgeous. It possesses striking textural finesse and an understated personality. The blend is approximately equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, including 3% still Pinot Noir from the 2005 vintage. This version is 97% 2008 juice, which accounts for the wine’s freshness and focus. Dosage is 9.6 grams per liter. Disgorged October 18, 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.
Rated 90/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Gaston Chiquet Blanc de Blancs d'Ay Brut Pre-Arrival Price $52.99 750mL, $109.99 1.5L
(all 2007 fruit; disgorged 04/05/11):  Green-tinged gold.  Highly fragrant scents of green apple, melon, jasmine and chamomile.  Dry and sharply focused, with very good depth and vivacity to its juicy orchard fruit and mineral flavors.  Very tight on the finish, which lingers with impressive tenacity and strongly echoes the mineral note.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2002 Gaston Chiquet Blanc de Blancs d'Ay Brut Pre-Arrival Price $155.99 1.5L(disgorged July 1, 2011):  Light gold.  Captivating, intensely perfumed nose combines orchard fruits, nectarine, minerals, white flowers and iodine.  Intense and tactile on entry, then taut and penetrating in the middle, with impressive power to its citrus fruit, melon and floral flavors.  A very powerful, palate-staining Champagne that is aging slowly.
Rated 94/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2004 Gaston Chiquet Blanc de Blancs d'Ay Brut Pre-Arrival Price $145.99 1.5L
Not Yet Reviewed

2000 Gaston Chiquet Blanc de Blancs d'Ay Brut Pre-Arrival Price $489.99 3L
(disgorged January, 2010) Yellow-gold. Wild, mineral-driven bouquet of orange zest, pear, lemongrass and chamomile, with a strong note of iodine picking up steam with air. Deeply pitched, potent orchard fruit and mineral flavors stain the palate, with salty minerality providing lift. The iodine note repeats strongly on the finish, which leaves a trail of mineral and floral notes behind. This reminds me a lot of a top-notch Chablis or a soil-dominated wine from Puligny.
Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Gaston Chiquet Cuvee de Reserve Brut Pre-Arrival Price $59.99(45% pinot meunier, 35% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir, mostly from 2004 but also including bits of 2002, 2001 and 1998; disgorged 12/08/09):  Light gold.  Pungent scents of dried pear and peach pit are lifted by a tangy orange zest nuance.  Vibrant on the palate, showing pungent blood orange and orchard fruit character and a late jolt of ginger.  Finishes clean, nervy and impressively long, with lingering notes of honeysuckle and chalk.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2004 Gaston Chiquet Special Club Brut Pre-Arrival Price $75.99The 2004 Brut Special Club bursts from the glass with terrific energy and sheer class. It captures all of the potential of a year that was especially favorable to Chardonnay. There is plenty of nuance and detail in the glass. The 2004 shows off tons of personality and sheer class. Mint, sage and eucalyptus are some of the notes that wrap around the finish. This is first-class all the way. It is also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Chiquet. The 2004 Special Club is 70% Chardonnay (from Dizy), 30% Pinot Noir (from Ay and Hautvillers). Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged July 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.
Rated 94/100 points The Wine Advocate

Rene Geoffroy
NV Rene Geoffroy Expression Brut Pre-Arrival Price $48.99
(59% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier and 16% chardonnay; 70% of the wine is from 2008 and the rest from 2007 and 2006; disgorged 03/09/11):  Pale yellow.  Exotic, mineral-accented aromas of pear, orange and anise, with a slow-building spiciness.  Dry and focused on the palate, offering spicy orchard fruit flavors and a deeper nectarine quality on the back end.  Closes with firm, stony cut and very good persistence.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Rene Geoffroy Empreinte Brut Pre-Arrival Price $55.99 750mL, $31.99 375mL(76% pinot noir, 14% chardonnay and 10% pinot meunier, all from 2006; disgorged 05/12/11):  Light gold.  Musky citrus pith, redcurrant and pear skin on the nose, complicated by scents of licorice and spicecake.  A broad, sappy Champagne that offers gently sweet blood orange and pear flavors, with hints of toasty lees and dried rose adding complexity.  Finishes with strong thrust and noteworthy clarity, spiciness and energy. 
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Rene Geoffroy Rose' de Saignee Brut Pre-Arrival Price $63.99 750mL, $37.99 375mL, $145.99 1.5LThe NV Brut Rose de Saignee is 100% Pinot Noir from the 2008 vintage. The rich, vinous style is beautifully balanced by the coolness and minerality of the year. This is a gorgeous, complete Champagne bursting with personality and sheer class. The wine boasts fabulous depth and remarkable nuance without ever coming across as heavy. To be sure, this is an intense, bold style that needs to be paired with food. Disgorged July 5, 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2018. 
Rated 93/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Rene Geoffroy Blanc de Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $105.99
(a 50/50 blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, all from 2009, with only 1 g/l dosage; disgorged 05/12/11):  Light orange-pink.  High-pitched, incisive aromas of fresh red berries, blood orange, white pepper and rose, with a strong mineral component.  Dry and focused in the mouth, showing noteworthy intensity to the zesty strawberry, raspberry and bitter rhubarb flavors.  The mineral and floral notes repeat on the long, sappy, penetrating finish, which features an intense spicy quality.  I love this vibrant, pure style of rose Champagne.
Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Rene Geoffroy Cuvee Volupte Brut Pre-Arrival Price $79.99(80% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir, with a very low dosage of 2 g/l; disgorged 03/09/11):  Light gold.  Highly fragrant bouquet of orange zest, lemongrass, honeysuckle and chalky minerals.  Dry and precise on the palate, with lively citrus and underripe orchard fruit flavors picking up spiciness with air.  Finishes bright and long, with excellent clarity and mineral-driven persistence.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2002 Rene Geoffroy Millesime Extra Brut Pre-Arrival Price $315.99 1.5L(60% pinot noir, 35% chardonnay and 5% pinot meunier; raised in wood, with the malo blocked and a very low dosage used; disgorged March 9, 2011):  Light yellow-gold.  Exotically perfumed nose displays an array of citrus and orchard fruit aromas, along with notes of vanilla, anise and smoke.  Lush Meyer lemon, pear and honeysuckle flavors stain the palate, with bitter herb and quince nuances adding cut.  Leaves smoky mineral and leesy notes behind on the strikingly long, sappy finish.  Powerful, well-balanced Champagne.
Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
NV Rene Geoffroy Ratafia Pre-Arrival Price $44.99
Not Yet Reviewed
Jean Lallement et Fils
NV Jean Lallement et Fils Brut Pre-Arrival Price $49.99
The NV Brut is a very pretty wine graced with considerable nuance and complexity. Sweet red fruits, mint, flowers and herbs are some of the notes that come together in this articulate Champagne. Lallement’s NV Brut shows lovely balance and class from start to finish. Floral notes are nicely layered into the energetic close. The NV Brut is 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, 80% 2008, 20% 2007 vintages. There is quite a bit of 2008 vintage character here. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged May 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2014.
Rated 91/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Jean Lallement et Fils Reserve Brut Pre-Arrival Price $59.99
(80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay; disgorged May, 2011):  Light, bright gold.  Musky orchard fruits and yellow plum on the nose, complemented by hints of marzipan and honey.  A powerful, densely packed style that shows surprising energy to its ripe apple and pear flavors.  A  zesty citrus quality adds cut and lift to the smoky, toasty finish.  I like the blend of richness and vivacity here.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Jean Lallement et Fils Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $59.99
The NV Brut Rose is 100% Pinot Noir from Verzenay. It is a fabulous wine endowed with tons of sheer energy and class. Layers of vibrant, beautifully delineated fruit flow effortlessly from this superb Champagne. Although it can’t be labeled as a single vintage wine, Lallement’s NV Brut Rose is 100% 2008 juice. It is a serious wine that is highly deserving of attention. Sweet, perfumed notes resonate on the finish. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged May 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.
Rated 92/100 points The Wine Advocate

Pehu-Simonet
NV Pehu-Simonet Selection Pre-Arrival Price $46.99
The NV Brut Selection is another beautiful wine that gains in complexity through the blending of fruit from Verzenay, Veryz and Sillery. It is a gorgeous, finessed Champagne graced with exquisite elegance and purity. It presents lovely detail in a refined expression of red berries, flowers, chalk and spices, all of which flow to the cool, minerally finish. I especially like the energy and focus. This is another beautiful showing. The Selection is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, based on the 2007 vintage, with some 2006. Pehu aged 5% of the wine in oak, the rest was done in stainless steel. Dosage is 9.5 grams per liter. Disgorged February 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2017.
Rated 92/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Pahu-Simonet Transparence Extra Brut Pre-Arrival Price $49.99
(70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay, from Vezelay):  Bright yellow.  Fresh orange and pear on the expressive mineral- and floral-accented nose; smells like a wine from Puligny-Montrachet.  Bright and focused on the palate, offering pure citrus fruit and honeysuckle flavors and a deeper pear skin nuance.  Shows alluring silkiness and very good focus on the finish, the floral note echoing.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Pehu-Simonet Blanc de Blancs Brut Pre-Arrival Price $64.99(100% chardonnay, from Mesnil-sur-Oger; disgorged June, 2011):  Green-tinged yellow.  Complex, floral-accented bouquet displays Meyer lemon, orange peel, pear, jasmine, chalk and white pepper.  Dry, pure and precise, with a weightless quality and surprising concentration to its citrus zest, mineral and floral flavors.  The finish leaves a dusty mineral note behind and strongly repeats the floral note.  Owing to its finesse and cut, this blanc de blancs would be great with sashimi or raw oysters.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV Pehu-Simonet Blanc de Noir Brut Pre-Arrival Price $64.99The NV Brut Blanc de Noirs is 100% 2008 Pinot Noir from Verzenay. It seems cool, minerally and implosive, with fabulous energy, focus and cut. The personality of the year comes through in spades in this understated and totally beautiful Champagne. White flowers, citrus and crushed rocks are layered into the finish. Pehu used oak for 60% of the wine and stainless steel for the remainder. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged June 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.
Rated 92/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Pehu-Simonet Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $58.99
(80% pinot noir and 20% chardonnay, from Verzenay, Verzy, Sillery and Mailly; based on 2007 fruit; disgorged March, 2011):  Light, bright orange.  Ripe red berries and herbs on the pungent nose and in the mouth.  Becomes spicier with air and picks up a tarragon element, along with a hint of candied rose.  Closes on a refreshingly bitter note, with solid punch and lingering florality.
Rated 90/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

A. MargaineNV A. Margaine Cuvee Traditionelle Brut Pre-Arrival Price $45.99 750mL, $25.99 375mLThe NV Brut Cuvee Traditionelle shows fabulous intensity and sheer class. Citrus, flowers and crushed rock are some of the nuances that emerge from this beautifully delineated Champagne. A gorgeous, ethereal finish rounds things out in style. The blend is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, 52% 2008 juice plus reserves spanning 2007 (20%), 2005 (8%), 2004 (12%), and 2000 (8%), with partial malolactic fermentation. Dosage is 8.5 grams per liter. Disgorged July 10, 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2016.
Rated 91/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV A. Margaine Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $49.99
(78% chardonnay and 22% pinot noir; disgorged July, 2009) Pale pink. Fresh, finely etched red berry and blood orange aromas are complemented by notes of talc and cinnamon. Lively, focused red fruit flavors are concentrated and brisk, with a note of white pepper adding lift on the spicy, refreshing, snappy finish. (Terry Theise Estate Selections/Michael Skurnik Wines, Syosset, NY)
Rated 90/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2006 A. Margaine Special Club Pre-Arrival Price $74.99(100% chardonnay from premier cru Villers-Marmery; 20% of the wine was brought up in oak; disgorged July 10, 2011):  Light yellow.  A highly perfumed bouquet combines citrus and orchard fruits with spicy oak and floral nuances.  Juicy, dense and spicy, with bright acidity lifting and sharpening the sappy pear and orange flavors.  Shows noteworthy intensity on the finish, which leaves notes of vanilla bean and ginger behind.  This wine's blend of power and vivacity is impressive.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV A. Margaine Demi-Sec Pre-Arrival Price $26.99Margaine’s NV Demi-Sec Traditionelle reveals an unusual level of balance and finesse for a Demi-Sec Champagne. The wine shows terrific balance and focus in its crisp apples, flowers and sweet baking spices, with outstanding overall balance and great harmony. Disgorged: April 2009. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2013.
Rated 90/100 points The Wine Advocate
L. Aubry et Fils
NV L. Aubry et Fils Brut Pre-Arrival Price $39.99 750mL, $89.99 1.5L
(disgorged July, 2011):  Light gold.  High-pitched aromas of citrus zest, ginger and white pepper, with a stony topnote.  Dry and precise, offering tangy orange and lemon flavors that boast very good clarity and power.  Finishes bright and linear, with lingering chalkiness and very good persistence.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

NV L. Aubry et Fils Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $52.99(45% chardonnay, 40% pinot noir and 15% still pinot meunier; disgorged July, 2011):  Pale orange-pink.  Dark berries and potpourri on the exotically perfumed nose.  Fleshy and silky in texture, with very good depth and energy to its black raspberry and candied rose flavors.  Becomes spicier with air and finishes with impressive energy, cling and spicy persistence.  For such a rich Champagne there's wonderful vivacity here.
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2005 L. Aubry et Fils Le Nombre d'Or Campaniae Veteres Vites Brut Pre-Arrival Price $56.99(25% co-fermented pinot gris and pinot blanc, 20% petit meslier, 20% pinot noir, 15% arbanne and 10% each of pinot meunier and chardonnay; no oak; disgorged January, 2011):  Pale straw.  An explosively perfumed bouquet of spicy citrus and pear is complicated by pungent floral and herbal nuances.  Luscious, concentrated and palate-staining, with ripe orchard fruit and citrus pith flavors underscored by chalky minerality.  Finishes with excellent focus and mineral-driven thrust. 
Rated 92/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2006 L. Aubry et Fils Cuvee Nicolas Francois Aubry Sable Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $73.99(35% pinot noir and meunier, pressed together, 20% each of arbanne and petit meslier, 15% chardonnay and 10% still pinot meunier; disgorged January, 2011):  Light orange.  Seductively perfumed, exotic bouquet of strawberry, blood orange and Asian spices.  Fresh, finely etched red berry and citrus flavors gain intensity and weight with air, picking up pink peppercorn and cinnamon qualities.  Finishes clean and brisk, with resonating red berry notes and very good persistence.
Rated 91/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

Vilmart & CieNV Vilmart & Cie Cuvee Grand Cellier Brut Pre-Arrival Price $69.99 750mL, $449.99 3LThe NV Brut Cuvee Grand Cellier possesses gorgeous intensity in its piercing notes of lemon, white flowers and spices. Smoky, floral notes continue to emerge as the wine shows off its class and sheer energy. This is a great showing from the Grand Cellier. The Grand Cellier is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. This release is based on 2008, with reserve wines from 2007 and 2006. The fruit is sourced from Les Hautes Greves and Les Basses Greves, both in Rilly la Montagne. Dosage is 10 grams per liter. Disgorged May 2011. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2015.
Rated 91/100 points The Wine Advocate

NV Vilmart st Cie Cuvee Rubis Brut Pre-Arrival Price $69.99
(90% pinot noir and 10% chardonnay):  Bright, orange-tinged pink.  Sexy, high-pitched aromas of blood orange, strawberry, potpourri and minerals; smells like an elegant, stony red Burgundy.  Dry and precise, with very good depth and focus to its sappy red fruit, orange zest and floral flavors.  Shows a touch of vanilla on the impressively long, clinging finish, with the strawberry note repeating.
Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2006 Vilmart & Cie Cuvee Grand Cellier Rubis Rose' Brut Pre-Arrival Price $134.99(60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, from a single vineyard of old vines):  Bright orange-pink.  Explosively perfumed scents of fresh red berries, vanilla, potpourri and smoky minerals, with an exotic veneer of Asian spices.  Creamy and broad but focused, offering intense raspberry and cherry flavors lifted and sharpened by a blood orange nuance.  The spice, floral and vanilla notes linger with impressive tenacity.
Rated 95/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2000 Vilmart et Cie Cuvee Creation Brut Pre-Arrival Price $119.99(80% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir, from a single site in Rilly la Montagne; disgorged April, 2010):  Light gold.  Strikingly complex bouquet of fresh citrus and orchard fruit scents, along with notes of iodine, chamomile, vanilla and smoky minerals.  Like a serious white Burgundy with bubbles, offering intense orange, pear and spice flavors and a smoky overtone.  Finishes very long and precise, with lingering smokiness and mouthwatering minerality.  This is the last vintage for this bottling, by the way.
Rated 94/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

1998 Vilmart et Cie Cuvee Creation Brut Pre-Arrival Price $319.99 3LSimply seductive, this silky Champagne features expressive coconut, candied berry, grapefruit and spice flavors. Harmonious and fresh, with a lingering aftertaste. Drink now through 2020.
Rated 93/100 points Wine Spectator

2000 Vilmart et Cie Coeur de Cuvee Brut Pre-Arrival Price $299.99 1.5L
A moderately yeasty yet elegant nose that is fresh, complex and carries touches of both pain grillé and citrus blossom while leading to intense, pure and gorgeously deep flavors that possess first class breadth and genuinely excellent length. While still on the way up, after 30 to 45 minutes it began to display notably deeper and broader flavors that are at once powerful yet refined. A terrific effort that is absolutely worth your attention.
Rated 94/100 points Allen Meadows's Burghound

NV Vilmart et Cie Ratafia Pre-Arrival Price $52.99
Not Yet Reviewed

Chartogne-Taillet
NV Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte-Anne Brut Pre-Arrival Price $41.99 750mL, $28.99 375mL, $97.99 1.5L, $226.99 3L
(60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir, 80% from 2007 and 20% each from 2006 and 2005; disgorged June, 2011):  Light gold.  Deeply pitched aromas of orchard fruits and redcurrant, with a hint of pungent herbs.  Dense and chewy on the palate, offering broad pear and bitter cherry flavors braced by tangy acidity.  Shows very good clarity and energy on the finish, which leaves a spicy note behind.
Rated 90/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

2004 Chartogne-Taillet Millesime Brut Pre-Arrival Price $59.99(60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay; disgorged August, 2011):  Greenish gold.  High-pitched aromas of nectarine, pear, honeysuckle and cherry pit, with a sexy overtone of allspice and candied ginger.  Buttery orchard fruit and red berry fruit flavors stain the palate, complemented by notes of orange marmalade and smoky herbs.  Precise and nervy on the impressively long finish, which echoes the red fruit and floral notes.
Rated 93/100 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar